Jamaica celebrates - Formation of NDTC
Published: Sunday | June 21, 2009
Contributed
(1) Founding members of the National Dance Theatre Company (from left), Shirley Campbell, Eddy Thomas, Sheila Barnett, Mavis Lai, Bert Rose, Yvonne daCosta, Maureen Casserly, Audley Butler, Barbara Grant, Bridget Casserly, Ronan Critchlow Pansy Silvera, Monica McGowan. Absent from photo are Joyce Campbell, Rosalie Markes, Gertrude Sherwood and Rex Nettleford (co-director 1962-67, 67-present artistic director).
(2) THE KING MUST DIE: One of the dance-works presented by the NDTC as part of its 10th anniversary programme. In the picture are Rex Nettleford (as the King) standing over Bert Rose (as the Rival). The women subjects are (from left) Bridget Casserly, Dorothy McFarlane, Joyce Campbell and Jean Binns. The other featured dancers in the piece were Dorothy Fraser (the Rival's girlfriend) and Noelle Chutkan (the Queen mother) in 1962.
(3) The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan (second left), meets Rex Nettleford, director of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), and members of the company in 1962. The prime minister and his party attended a lecture-demonstration on the origins of Jamaica dance at the Little Theatre Studio. Others are Maurice Stoppe (chairman of the NDTC Board of Directors) and members of the NDTC Singers.
The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) of Jamaica was formed in 1962 following the Independence Gala Show Roots and Rhythms, with the blessing of the Minister of Development and Welfare, headed by the then minister, the Hon Edward Seaga. It was actually formed at a meeting held in Chancellor Hall on the UWI Mona campus.
Founding members were Sheila Barnett, Audley Butler, Joyce and Shirley Campbell, Bridget and Maureen Casserly, Ronan Critchlow, Yvonne daCosta, Barbara Grant, Mavis Lai, Rosalie Markes, Monica McGowan, Bert Rose, Gertrude Sherwood and Pansy Silvera (dancers) Joyce Lalor (vocal soloist), George Carter (lighting director) and Verona Ashman (secretary) with Eddy Thomas and Rex Nettleford as co-directors and choreographers.
Founders
Founding patrons were Edna Manley, Robert Verity, Louise Bennett-Coverley, Martha Graham and Edward Seaga.
The NDTC has since won international acclaim through its overseas tours to Australia, USSR, Germany, Finland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the USA, Mexico, Latin America and the wider Caribbean.
The respect it enjoys at home rests on its annual Season of Dance, its many television appearances, as well as live performances throughout Jamaica, its work in education research and training largely through the School of Dance (now a division of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts) and on its participation in community dance through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.
